mlppp

What is a Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol

MLPPP (Multi-Link Point-to-Point Protocol) is a protocol used to combine individual Internet connections. This allows you to aggregate bandwidth equal to the sum of the individual physical connections in order to increase the overall Internet speed. MLPPP also allows different types of Internet connections such as ADSL, wireless and cable, etc to be combined.

Usually there is only a single physical layer link between 2 devices. However, in the case of MLPPP there can be 2 or even more links between the same pair of devices. This is the concept behind ISP Bonding, where if an Internet connection between two devices is slow, a simple solution is to use another connection in parallel to double the performance and bandwidth capacity between the two devices.

In comparison to Internet Link Load Balancing, Internet bonding allows networks to use the total available bandwidth capacity of all the Internet connections instead of the bandwidth capacity of just a single connection. In Load Balancing, multiple connections to the Internet will have to be made in order to use all the connections. Whereas in Internet Bonding this is just a single connection that virtually connects them all.

As MLPPP is used for Internet bonding, all the bonded connections must originate and terminate at the same points to ensure that all the data transferred can be recombined before it reaches its destination. It is also necessary that the ISP has the appropriate software and hardware to support MLPPP.

MLPPP is a layer 2 technology and as such is transparent to layer 3 and above (namely TCP/IP). Unlike Internet Link Load Balancing which happens on layer 3 and uses two (or more) different IP addresses, MLPPP-based Internet Bonding will result in a single IP address being assigned to the network gateway. This ensures that any requests made to a server are seen to arrive from only one connection.

MLPPP is not restricted to any Internet technology, it is just a method of bonding multiple PPP links together, whether its ADSL, Cable or Dial up, etc.

However, there are also limitations to MLPPP. MLPPP is not supported by the BT Network. This therefore affects ISPs that use MLPPP to provide a Bonded Internet service to customers using BT’s network. If there are any problems with the service due to MLPPP then neither party will receive engineer support.

With the Xrio UBM it is also possible to combine different links together. For example, ADSL and SDSL; or even Leased Line, Cable and ADSL, etc. The Xrio UBM does not use MLPPP to bond Internet connections and is actually achieved with Xrio’s proprietary protocol. Learn more about UBM ISP Bonding.